| Samphire | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Subfamily: | Apioideae |
| Tribe: | Pyramidoptereae |
| Genus: | Crithmum L. |
| Species: | C. maritimum |
| Binomial name | |
| Crithmum maritimum | |
Crithmum is a monospecificgenus offlowering plant in the carrot family,Apiaceae. The sole species,Crithmum maritimum, is commonly known asrock samphire,[1][2]sea fennel[1] orsamphire.[1] It is found in parts of the Old World and is edible.
It is aperennial plant growing to 50 centimetres (20 in) in both height and width. Thestems are woody at the base, fleshy elsewhere and hairless. The leaves are fleshy lobes. The greenish-yellow flowers are borne in umbels. The fruits (seed pods) are yellow or purple and up to 5–6 millimetres (3⁄16–1⁄4 in).[3]
Crithmum is found on coastlines throughout much of Europe (north to the British Isles),Macaronesia, parts of West Asia and North Africa in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea coasts.
In Britain, rock samphire is cultivated ingardens,[4][5] where it grows readily in a light, richsoil. In the United Kingdom the uprooting of wild plants is illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.[6]
Rock samphire or sea fennel has fleshy, dividedaromatic leaves thatCulpeper described as having a "pleasant, hot and spicy taste".[7] The plant can be prepared much likemarsh samphire (Salicornia europaea); the stems and leaves should be washed and cooked, while the stems, leaves and young seed pods can bepickled,[3][8] perhaps in salted and spicedvinegar. The fresh leaves may be used insalads. Dried and ground sea fennel can also be used as a salt substitute.[citation needed]
Sea fennel pickle inolive oil orvinegar is a traditional food of Italy (Marche region), Croatia (Dalmatia), Greece, and Montenegro (Bay of Kotor). It is known as Paccasassi del Conero and used as an antipasto, to accompany fish and meat dishes and to garnish pizza and sandwiches.
Sea fennel has nutritional value,[9] and is rich in antioxidants.[10]
In the 17th century,Shakespeare inKing Lear referred to the dangerous practice of collecting rock samphire from cliffs.[11] In the 19th century, samphire was being shipped incasks ofseawater from theIsle of Wight to market in London at the end of May each year.[12] Rock samphire used to be cried in London streets as "Crest Marine".[5]
The reclaimed piece of land adjoiningDover, calledSamphire Hoe, is named after rock samphire. The land was created from spoil from theChannel Tunnel, and rock samphire used to be harvested from the neighbouring cliffs.[citation needed]
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